GB2332392A

GB2332392A - Greetings card/gift container

Info

Publication number: GB2332392A
Application number: GB9817545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Gebers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-05
Filing date: 1998-08-13
Publication date: 1999-06-23
Also published as: GB9817545D0; GB2332392A9

Abstract

The greetings card is constructed from front 2 and rear (3,Fig 3) panels joined by a spine 4. The front panel has foldable pre-glued flaps 5 which allow the front and rear panels to be linked to form a container. The spine has multiple fold lines 10 which allow the container to expand to fit the gift, such as a magazine or periodical, to be enclosed.

Description

1 2332392 GREETING CARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a greeting card.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Traditionally greeting cards and the envelopes employed to deliver them are separate entities. The envelope is of limited use, and is generally discarded once the card reached its destination. Furthermore, one often faces the problem of finding an envelope of the correct size for the card, and it is also relatively easy for the envelope to become misplaced. Further, few greeting cards are adapted to carry gifts of any substantial size.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide a greeting card which at least partially alleviates some of the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a greeting card characterised in that it is foldable to form a substantially closed container, the container being of suitable proportions to hold a gift.

2 There is further provided for the greeting card to have at least two panels joined by a spine, so that the first panel can be folded over the second panel, and for at least one of the panels to have sealing means such that the greeting card once folded can be sealed, and for the sealing means to be a flap extending from the end of a panel and having an adhesive thereon, such that the flap can be secured to the panel after being folded there over.

There is further provided for the adhesive flaps to be joined to the panels by sulcations of perforated fold lines.

There is further provided for the gift to be a magazine or periodical.

There is also provided for the exterior surface of one of the panels to be printed with a suitable greeting or decoration, and for the exterior surface of the panel to provide a space for the details of the addressee and the addressor.

There is also provided for the interior surface to be either blank or to have a pre-printed message thereon.

There is still further provided for the interior volume of the container to be variable and for the spine of the container to be folded in concertina fashion, to allow for expansion of the container, to accommodate magazines of various thickness.

There is further provided for at least one of the panel members to be padded, such that the contents of the greeting card are protected.

1 3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the greeting card in its open form; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the greeting card in its sealed form; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the greeting card in its scaled form; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the greeting card once it has been opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Figure 1, the greeting card (1) comprises a front panel (2) and a rear panel (3) joined by a spine (4).

The front panel (2) has foldable flaps (5) which have an adhesive strip on their under side, the flaps (5) are joined the front panel (2) by fold lines (6) having perforations thereon. On the exterior surface of the front panel (2) is a pre-printed decorative background or border (7) and a greeting (8). The exterior surface of the rear panel (3) has space for the name and address of the addressee, while the name and address of the sender can be inscribed on one of the flaps (5). Either both or one of the front (2) or rear (3) panels may be padded in order to protect the contents of the card.

4 The spine (4) has fold lines (10) which allow it to expand depending on the thickness of the gift to be enclosed.

In use, a greeting or message is inscribed on the interior surface of the greeting card (not shown) and a gift, preferably in the form of a magazine or periodical, is placed inside the card. (My note: m' in use a greett. ng or message i. S 1. nscribed on the exterior surface of the greeting card. " Thi's is how the product will be used in most cases and how the product has been constructed at present. This has not been 1. ncluded in the application in SA) The card is then closed, and flaps (5) are folded over the exterior surface of the rear panel (6) and sealed, to form a container. The container is then ready to be addressed and mailed. The container thus combines the various attributes of an envelope, greeting card and gift wrap.

On receipt, the container may be opened by tearing the perforations (6).

Referring to Figure 4, the card (1) is then capable of standing unaided.

Numerous modifications are possible t o this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the sealing means used may take a variety of forms, further the greeting card may be manufactured in numerous different sizes, and various greetings and designs can be printed on the card. Finally, the gift enclosed within the card need not necessarily be a magazine.

1

Claims

1. A greeting card characterised in that it is foldable to form a substantially closed container, the container being of suitable proportions to hold a gift.

2. A greeting card as claimed in claim 1 having at least two panels joined by a spine, so that the first panel can be folded over the second panel.

3. A greeting card as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of the panels has scaling means such that the greeting card once folded can be sealed.

4. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing means is a flap extending from the end of a panel and having an adhesive thereon, such that the flap can be secured to the opposite panel.

5. A greeting card as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flap can be secured to the panel after being folded there over.

6. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the adhesive flaps are joined to the panels by sulcations or perforated fold lines.

7. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gift is a magazine or periodical.

8. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the exterior surface of one of the panels is printed with a suitable greeting or decoration.

6

9. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the exterior surface of the second panel provides a space for the details of the addressee and the addressor.

10. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the interior surface is either blank or to have a preprinted message thereon.

11. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the interior volume of the container is variable and the spine of the container is folded in concertina fashion, to allow for expansion of the container, to accommodate magazines of various thickness.

12. A greeting card as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the panel members is padded, such that the contents of the greeting card are protected.

13. A greeting card substantially as herein described, with reference to and as exemplified in any one of the Figures 1 to 4.

Dated this day 1997 FOR THE APPLICANT PATENT ATTORNEY 1